November 19: Readers speak out on Gaza operation

Because of our original lack of response, each day we hesitated we allowed our enemies to become stronger – which of course would mean more lost sons and maybe even daughters.

Letters 370.
(photo credit:REUTERS/Handout )

Sir, – Many Israelis are calling for even stronger measures against Hamas. It’s
so easy to cry foul when we fail to see who will pay the cost in lives – mothers
weeping for their sons and the countless wounded who will suffer for a lifetime
with lost limbs and eyesight or worse.

Because of our original lack of
response, each day we hesitated we allowed our enemies to become stronger –
which of course would mean more lost sons and maybe even daughters.

The
cost of freedom has always meant sacrificing our young. If we are ever to have
peace in the South this sacrifice must be made.

FRED CROWN-TAMIR
Mevaseret Zion

Sir, – In view of the ongoing war in Gaza, I want to know the
answer to one question: Has our government taken all reasonable steps to bring
maximum pressure to bear on Gaza before committing troops to a possibly bloody
ground operation? Have we cut off all electrical feeds? Have we cut off the
water supplies? Have we destroyed infrastructure, namely the power generating
stations? Have we cut off all supplies, including food and medicines? If not,
why not? As one with a personal interest in the safety of our soldiers (having
one grandson just called up for emergency reserve duty and three others
potentially available), I don’t want their lives or the lives of any other
soldiers risked unnecessarily.

However, there is no future in achieving a
partial victory and a brief cessation in rocket attacks, as we did the last
time. Anything less than a complete victory is unacceptable.

STEPHEN
COHEN Ma’aleh Adumim

Sir, – The US is urging restraint, and the Palestinians are
announcing terms under which they would be willing to halt this
war.

Until when? Until Iran resupplies their destroyed weapons? Since
when does the defeated dictate the terms? The years of restraint should be
renewed only when Hamas unconditionally surrenders. It won’t? Then it’s up to us
to wipe it out.

RUTH MOSS Beersheba

Sir, – I have been following the
recent events and realized that the beginning of this conflict was completely
forgotten.

The Gazans launched an antitank missile toward an IDF jeep
patrolling the border, with tragic results. And rockets were sporadically being
launched all the time.

This information should be repeated as much as
possible so that the world knows who the aggressor really is.

CATI
HOLLAND Hadera

Sir, – I hope all those people and nations demanding that Israel
remove the “inhumane siege” of the Gaza Strip now realize that in effect there
is no such thing.

Thousands of rockets, launchers and other “vital”
humanitarian were able to be brought in over the past few years. Imagine if
Hamas really cared about the local population instead of just its violent
jihadist goals.

Every rocket launched shows the justice in Israel’s
steadfast stance not to allow an even more porous and dangerous situation from
developing.

SHLOMO LOSHINSKY Ma’aleh Adumim

Sir, – When Israel
unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the Palestinians had their
own land and a chance to determine their own fate. But they chose to elect as
their leaders a terrorist group whose charter calls for the destruction of
Israel.

Meanwhile, countries like Iran and Syria supply these terrorists
with missiles to stoke the fires and elicit an Israeli response – because as
long as the Iranians and Syrians call for the heads of Israelis, their people
won’t be calling for the heads of their corrupt leaders.

(And if one day
all those in the Middle East calling for Israel’s destruction get their wish,
the next day they will still awaken to find themselves with no rights, no
freedoms and no chance of a decent future for their children.) There can be no
peace in the Middle East until groups like Hamas are half as interested in
creating a Palestinian state as they are in destroying the Jewish
one.

GARY TAUSTINE New York

Sir, – Surely, any group that fosters
heightened unity among Israelis and, more amazingly, the rekindling of Jewish
connectivity among the many bourgeois, Bohemian and simply indifferent denizens
of Tel Aviv deserves our unending appreciation.

Is it too soon to
nominate Hamas and the red alerts it unleashed on Tel Aviv for an Israel Prize?

J.J. GROSS Jerusalem

Sir, – I am glad The Jerusalem Post pointed out that the
name of the current war with Hamas, “Pillar of Defense,” is not the true
translation of the Hebrew name, Amud Annan, which means “pillar of
cloud.”

The term appears in Exodus 14:19 – “The pillar of cloud moved
from in front of them [Israel], so that it was stationed behind them.” Rashi
explained that the pillar kept the camp of the Israelites apart from the
pursuing Egyptians. It absorbed all the Egyptians’ arrows and ballistic
devices.

The name is perfectly matched to our current situation, in which
rockets are being intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.

During all
of Israel’s previous conflicts, the Hebrew designation for the operation or war
was translated properly. It was never translated for propaganda purposes or for
people who were unaware of Jewish history.

The name Amud Annan must have
been suggested by someone familiar with history. It should not have been changed
in translation.

STANLEY WEXLER Jerusalem The writer is a rabbi

Sir, –
Your November 16 editorial “Gaza Reality” seems to be based on the premise that
Hamas rules Gaza by divine right. This is incorrect and
self-defeating.

Deuteronomy 32:28 states: “For a nation lost in counsel
are they, there is no understanding among them.” Is there anything more stupid
than to wage war with an enemy while at the same time supplying that enemy with
water and electric power? There will be no peace with Gaza as long as Hamas is
in charge, and Hamas will remain in charge until the citizens there are made so
uncomfortable that they revolt.

Israel’s goal must be regime change. When
Hamas terrorism is defeated, Israel should stand ready to institute a
mini-Marshall Plan to rebuild. The lesson should be very clear – they can have
prosperity or they can return to the dark ages and attack Israel while living in
the most miserable circumstances.

Hamas must be defeated. Then we can
have peace.

DAVID WILLIG Safed

Sir, – With regard to “Hadash calls on
public to end the violence in Gaza” (November 16) and “Activists protest outside
Barak’s home” (November 15), why does The Jerusalem Post give any credibility
and print space to these individuals? There are many solutions: Bomb, bomb and
bomb.

If the so-called peace-loving nations want a cease-fire, let them
go into Gaza via NATO and clean out the rockets from where they are embedded
among children, hospitals, schools and homes. Insist that a full accounting of
monies spent by Gaza be shown to enhance the lives of those living there instead
of being spent on weapons to kill and maim.

SONIA GOLDSMITH Netanya

Sir,
– The Into the Fray columns by Martin Sherman are normally quite readable. Last
week’s, though (“Aargh!!!, November 16), seemed to be only a pat on his own back
for his predictions.

With all that has been happening, what was he
thinking?

JOE MILNER Netanya

Sir, – You reported that a Hamas spokesman,
referring to the targeted killing of Ahmed Jabari, said that Israel had “opened
the gates of hell” (“Hamas: This means war,” October 15).

The spokesman
was only partially correct. The gates of hell did indeed open – to welcome
Jabari.

LESLIE PORTNOY Netanya

Your comment must be approved by a moderator before being published on JPost.com.
Disqus users can post comments automatically.

Comments must adhere to our Talkback policy. If you believe that a comment has breached the Talkback policy, please press the flag icon to bring it to the attention of our moderation team.